Posts Tagged ‘Thanksgiving’

Although the holiday décor in retail stores seems to be favoring Christmas, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We all love Thanksgiving food, right? Turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberries, and stuffing. But maybe you need some new recipes for your 2014 Thanksgiving repertoire, and if that’s the case, InnVirginia can help. (After all, who does food better than a B&B?)

Turkey, and mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, oh my! Thanksgiving is approaching with great rapidity, and if you are looking for something a bit different than the usual holiday get-together, consider some of the following events:

“On December 4, 1619, a group of 38 settlers, led by Captain John Woodlief, arrived at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, from Bristol, England. On the banks of the James River the Englishmen proclaimed ‘We ordaine that the day of our ship’s arrival at the place assigned for plantacon, in the land of Virginia, shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God’” (Virginia Thanksgiving Festival.) In keeping with the tradition of this first official Thanksgiving, you too can celebrate at the very same site where these travelers first held their own feast—Berkeley Plantation. On November 4, 2012, delight in a day of food and drink, games, historic costumes, tribal dancers, and parades at the Virginia Thanksgiving Festival.

“May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!”
–Anonymous

The word “Thanksgiving” has come to be synonymous with “turkey dinner.” The name of this holiday conjures images of a cozy family meal, a well-furnished table of food and autumn décor, and perhaps even a blazing fire in the hearth. But in all of the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving preparations, the meaning becomes lost in the labor.

So focused are we on preparing that perfect, Norman Rockwell-worthy dinner that we often disregard those who are not fortunate enough to spend Thanksgiving with family, friends, and an overabundance of food. We are surrounded by the homeless, the hungry, and the lonely, and how much of an impact on their lives would it make to invite them to our Thanksgiving meals? I can see the skepticism on your faces, and unfortunately, most will label the notion of extending an invitation to strangers as little more than an interesting idea.

But you’re not off the hook yet, because there are many other ways to support the less fortunate during this holiday season. How about the Central Virginia Food Bank? Or the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia? Or Feeding America: Southwest Virginia? One only has to do a quick Google search for “Virginia food banks” to see that there are so many establishments in the commonwealth in need of your assistance whether it be through donations of money or a few hours of your time.

And so, we here at the Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving while encouraging you not only to appreciate all that you possess, but also to give back to the community in which you make your home.

The First Thanksgiving by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris

(This blog entry was inspired by a young boy named John, who decided that for this Thanksgiving, he was going to collect food for those in need. Thank you, John, for your kind-heartedness and your inspiration.)